~Chapter 5~
The Blueciel Atelier she returned to was, fortunately, tidier than usual.
*‘How on earth did things come to this? Is the novel I’ve possessed not ‘Oath of the Black Knight’?’*
Adeline sat in her office, staring blankly out the window. A bewitching red-gold glow calmly dyed the sky.
Even after fleeing the Grand Duke’s residence as if escaping and returning to her atelier, Adeline couldn’t properly collect her thoughts. The memory of scrambling away from Wynster clung to her relentlessly.
*“Next time we meet, have a good excuse ready.”*
*“……”*
*“I’ll listen to any excuse you have.”*
She could have just brushed it off right there, saying she didn’t understand what he was talking about. Why was she being so foolish?
“Boss, did things not go well?”
Ian, who had entered the office, handed her a lukewarm cup of tea.
No matter how hot the day was, Adeline enjoyed her tea at a moderate temperature. Knowing this well, Ian always prepared tea at the warmth she liked.
“Thank you, Ian.”
“You were at Blackwood for quite a while. Nothing major happened, right?”
“Not really.”
Adeline took a sip of her tea and then slumped back over the desk.
The sound of nightingales from outside the window rose and fell. Ian’s voice came through amidst them.
“At least have some more tea. It’s the new geranium tea you created this time.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“This tea is the most popular lately.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Boss.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Boss!”
Adeline jolted upright, straightening her back rigidly. Ian’s expression, unlike usual, didn’t look very comfortable.
“Ian, is something wrong?”
“Something *is* wrong.”
“What is it?!”
“My boss has completely lost her mind.”
“……?”
Ian slid the mirror on the table toward Adeline.
“Boss, look in the mirror. Your appearance is a mess. It’s almost as bad as when the war with the Rudain Kingdom broke out.”
“Is my complexion that bad?”
“Yes. Back when the war broke out, you said we’d win unconditionally, but you were on the verge of being put in a coffin. It’s the same now.”
“……The war is over, right?”
“Yes, it ended very decisively.”
“Decisively. Right, wars are supposed to end decisively.”
“Just as you said, they even forced a peace treaty. It’s a complete victory for our empire.”
Though called a peace treaty, it was essentially no different than making the other country a vassal state.
“The Blackwood family led the war to victory and…”
“Yes, that’s right. His Grace, Grand Duke Blackwood, is the empire’s hero. The other delegations are busy trying to read his mood as well.”
The long war had finally come to an end. Winning the war against the Rudain Kingdom was a foregone conclusion. Wynster, forced onto the battlefield against his will just like in the original story, returned a hero.
Everything was the same up to this point. The problem was that, unlike in previous lives, the two of them had met at the Blackwood ducal residence.
*‘No. The problem should start from when we met at the hotel, right?’*
But can it even be called a problem? The protagonists are already decided anyway. If left alone, wouldn’t the story just proceed according to the original plot?
“Just as you predicted, Boss, His Grace, Grand Duke Blackwood, earned the greatest merit. It’s also as you foresaw that things are noisy lately over the victory celebration issue.”
“Well, that’s because the Empress is keeping the ducal house in check due to the Crown Prince appointment issue…”
“Yes, you’ve said that many times too.”
Wynster is the son of the late Emperor Heinrich II. The current emperor is Philip III, Heinrich II’s cousin.
Naturally, a rivalry formed between Philip III’s son and Wynster.
“He even went to war, risking his life, only to be treated coldly. It’s ridiculous. If His Late Majesty Heinrich had lived longer, His Grace would naturally be the Crown Prince by now.”
An endless stream of talk about Wynster poured from Ian’s mouth.
*‘I definitely remember up to greeting my classmates yesterday.’*
If it weren’t for the splitting headache, she could have thought more. Adeline clutched her head with her left hand.
“Ian, were there any customers who came to place orders today?”
“The young ladies from the Hamel family came and went.”
“They come often.”
“Yes, they’re regulars among regulars. And the gentleman with the flat cap came by again. He placed a huge order for scented candles, just like last time.”
“Really? It’s good that overall orders are increasing lately.”
“Perhaps because the war ended in victory, everyone is in high spirits.”
Wynster was detestable. But rising sales were welcome. Adeline rationalized this as she got up from her seat.
“Ian, let’s call it a day. I’m getting a headache, maybe from being too tired.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’ll feel better after sleeping. And the Blackwood family said they’d send someone.”
“Will they properly compensate?”
“They will.”
Since he said they would, they surely would. Wynster, at least, wasn’t a man who lied. He was a man whose problem, if any, was being too honest.
“While we sort things out a bit, put up a ‘Closed’ sign. And let’s start by writing letters to our clients, informing them that schedules might be delayed more than usual.”
“Understood.”
“We should contact the gentleman with the flat cap even more politely. He’s heading out to sea again this time, right?”
“Yes, he’ll be departing soon. I’ll contact him right away.”
“Thank you, Ian.”
“Boss, shall I escort you home?”
“No, it’s nearby, so I’m fine. You must be very tired too today, so go home and rest.”
“……Then I’ll do that.”
Adeline gave Ian’s shoulder a pat and then walked and walked on legs that felt drained of strength.
***
Only after arriving in front of her house did she hear an unexpected voice.
“Big Sister!”
*‘An auditory hallucination?’*
The sky, burning increasingly crimson, finally ushered in darkness as if leaving behind black ashes.
Only a short time had passed since the day she attended the alumni banquet until today, yet she was more exhausted than ever. So, auditory hallucinations were possible.
“Big Sister!”
“……?!”
Adeline looked down with startled eyes. What splashed against her knees like a small wave was her youngest brother, Luca. Still young, Luca tightly hugged Adeline.
“Big Sister! Big Sister!”
“Luca?! How did you get here?”
“I, small…”
“Did you come alone?”
“No, little…”
“Weren’t you hungry or tired on the way?”
Adeline stroked Luca’s hair. Luca looked frustrated, unable to speak properly.
That’s when it happened. Instead of Luca’s cute answer, a sharp voice was heard.
“How did we get here? Unnie, you’re really mean. Do you know how hurt we are?”
Raising her head, she saw her half-sister, Kyla.
“Kyla? Why are *you* here?”
“Is it strange for a sister to visit her unnie’s house?”
“It is because I never invited you.”
“Argh! So annoying. Why is it so hot here? Unnie Adeline, hurry up and open the door. Do you even know how much we suffered coming all the way to the capital?”
“How on earth did you find this place?”
“Just open the door first.”
“I asked how you knew to come here?”
“I said open the door first!”
Kyla pointed at the door with her finger as if giving an order.
“Unnie Adeline. Unnie, you really live in a nice place. We all live in a shabby old house.”
Adeline crossed her arms and stared sharply at Kyla. If she hadn’t come with the still-young Luca, she would have kicked her out immediately.
“Big Sister.”
“Our Luca, you must have been tired coming from far away?”
“No. I’m not tired. Because I get to see Big Sister. But it is a little hot.”
Apart from the brightly smiling Luca, she didn’t want to be entangled with the Primrose family anymore. Luca was still young, and since it was impossible unless she completely abandoned her noble status, she was just enduring it.
If possible, she even thought about buying a noble title. She was trying to hold out somehow until then.
“Unnie Adeline, I said hurry up and open the door.”
“Kyla.”
“Oh my, our Luca is about to collapse! Oh right. I also brought a very important letter.”
A single letter Kyla held fluttered pitifully in the summer breeze. It seemed this summer was destined to be fantastically terrible.
